Advancing Educator Excellence
in Atlanta Public Schools

School: Inman Middle School
Project: "Interactive White boards"
Dr. Bockman believed her project introducing interactive white boards (also known as smart boards) into Inman classrooms would be a natural fit for all learning styles. Research indicates that student engagement, learner motivation and knowledge retention are benefits of interactive white boards.

School: Centennial Place Elementary
Project: "Science and the New Georgia Aquarium "
She believed her project would assist students in exceeding standards in all areas. The school mission focuses on a science, mathematics and technology learning culture that delivers positive, personal educational experiences for each child, while closing the achievement gap.

School: West Manor Elementary School
Project: "Instructional day Extension "
Ms. May believed her project would help low-performing third-and fifth-grade students meet or exceed reading and math standards on the Criterion Reference Competency Test and Iowa Test of Basic Skills. She wanted to extend the school day by two hours, twice per week for 10 weeks.

School: M.A. Jones Elementary School
Project: "Family Literacy Nights "
She believed her project would train and provide parents with needed resources to affect student achievement in innovative and motivational ways. Providing parents fun activities to promote student achievement would improve student test scores and attitudes toward education.

School: C.W. Hill Elementary School, Second-Grade
Project: "Literature Circles for the Classroom"
Ms. Blake believed that her project would push students from the "meets" category to the "exceeds" category on the Reading and Language Arts sections of the Criterion Reference Competency Tests, motivate students to read and promote higher-level learning.

School: Peyton Forest Elementary School, K-5 ESOL teacher
Project: "Lending Library for Parents "
Ms. Crenshaw believed her project would increase test scores for ESOL students by providing English language practice at home. By allowing students to take tapes and tape players home, she hoped to improve their English-speaking skills and vocabulary, increase reading comprehension and improve their listening skills.

School: F.L. Stanton Elementary, Fifth-Grade
Project: "Mini Science Labs/Partnership in Classrooms "
Ms. Edwards believed her project would rekindle the natural curiosity in her students that research has shown children in lower grades have, and support hands-on science teaching. By providing a new and improved approach to scientific investigation, she anticipated that her project would improve CRCT scores.

School: The Carver School of Entrepreneurship, 10th & 11th Grade Geometry
Project: "Tessellations"
Ms. Giles believed her project would significantly impact student achievement because it would bridge all of the domains that students must master on the End of Course Test in geometry. Additionally, her project would raise student self-esteem through their master of the complex mathematic concepts tested by GHSGT and the Scholastic Aptitude Test.

School: Benteen Elementary, Second-Grade
Project: "Boys to Men Mentoring Program "
Ms. Lawrence believed her project would significantly impact the student achievement and self-esteem of African-American males who trail all major demographic groups on standardized tests. The combinations of tutoring and mentoring relationships would pair third-, fourth- and fifth-grade males with Amorphous College students and focus on preparations for the CRCT.

School: East Lake Elementary, Second-Grade
Project: "Zoo Creation "
Ms. Rogers believed her project would impact student achievement by integrating disciplines from core subject areas with problem-solving skills, providing direct-instruction and hands-on learning experiences that facilitate critical thinking and higher learning. Students would share their projects during the Zoo Grand Opening and participate in the Zoo Night Crawlers Program.